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Pretty much all the romantic comedies I like are screwballs; the genre's somewhat irreverent approach to love and, especially, marriage is kind of the only way I can stomach films focused on romantic courtship.

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Pretty much all the romantic comedies I like are screwballs; the genre's somewhat irreverent approach to love and, especially, marriage is kind of the only way I can stomach films focused on romantic courtship.

I enjoy something like SABRINA more than MY MAN GODFREY. Love doesn't have to be screwy to be fun. It can be charming and exhilarating.

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A lot of "Rom-Coms" as they're sometimes known, can be very predictable and dull. The ones that stand out for me are the ones that deviate from the standard formula or at least have some element of charm about them.

5. The Long, Hot Summer--you'd have to be blind not to see the on and off camera chemistry between soon to be married Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward. Longest Hollywood marriage in history up to Paul's death in 2009.

6. Marty--with Ernest Borgnine

7. You Can't Take It With You--with James Stewart, Jean Arthur, and Lionel Barrymore.

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The Long, Hot Summer--you'd have to be blind not to see the on and off camera chemistry between soon to be married Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward. Longest Hollywood marriage in history up to Paul's death in 2009.

Nice list, Tisher. I think Joel McCrea & Frances Dee were married longer-- 57 years as opposed to the Newmans' 50 years. Of course, both couples enjoyed long and successful marriages.

5. The Long, Hot Summer--you'd have to be blind not to see the on and off camera chemistry between soon to be married Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward. Longest Hollywood marriage in history up to Paul's death in 2009.

6. Marty--with Ernest Borgnine

7. You Can't Take It With You--with James Stewart, Jean Arthur, and Lionel Barrymore.

Like TB said, this is a very nice list of fine films, but some, like Dodsworth, I wouldn't classify as romantic comedies. While there is the very touching romance between the Dodsworth and the women played by Mary Astor, there isn't much comedy in the film.

I view films like Dodsworth, Marty and The Long Hot Summer more as romantic dramas.

Either way, I have seen all of these films and enjoyed them, and some, like Roman Holiday are my favorites.

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Like TB said, this is a very nice list of fine films, but some, like Dodsworth, I wouldn't classify as romantic comedies. While there is the very touching romance between the Dodsworth and the women played by Mary Astor, there isn't much comedy in the film.

Yes, I'd say there is a distinction between romantic comedies and romance dramas (melodramas).

In recent years, Hollywood tries to cover its bases by doing romantic comedy-dramas. But that's because the budgets are so huge now they have to put a little bit of everything into the movies to make them appeal to as wide an audience as possible.

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I don't about a top 10, but I absolutely love Arthur with Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli. I don't watch a lot of romantic comedy, but that one was so good, I've never seen the remake, but it doesn't look half as appealing. For one thing, they took away Hobson (what are your thoughts, Hobson?) and it would never be Arthur without Dudley Moore and the catchy soundtrack.

I enjoyed Sabrina as well, but I read that Humphrey Bogart said some nasty things about his co-star and that he did not care for Audrey Hepburn, and I can definitely see it in the movie. I do think it is highly superior to most of the cheesy stereotypical romantic films they put out today. I did enjoy that film and I loved Audrey in it. The scene at the beginning where he finds her in the garage is my favorite.

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I enjoyed Sabrina as well, but I read that Humphrey Bogart said some nasty things about his co-star and that he did not care for Audrey Hepburn, and I can definitely see it in the movie. I do think it is highly superior to most of the cheesy stereotypical romantic films they put out today. I did enjoy that film and I loved Audrey in it. The scene at the beginning where he finds her in the garage is my favorite.

Bogart's disdain for Hepburn, which seems to come through on screen, can be read as the character's standoffish behavior about becoming romantically involved with a servant's daughter. We could interpret it as his fighting the whole romance, how she just cannot be suitable for him, even if it is not so directly stated in the dialogue.

For the most part, I'm an Audrey Hepburn fan but even I have to admit she's pretty amateurish in some of her films (gliding by on her charm and fashion sense, instead of her characterizations). But this is not the case with SABRINA, where she is still charming and chic but also etches out a strong portrait of a young woman in love-- and maybe that's because Bogart was riding her and she had to prove she was serious about acting, or else there was something in the script she identified with.

I do think it's interesting Bogart's character winds up with her. Despite a remake in recent years, if this type of story was pitched in Hollywood today, the studios would insist she wind up with the sexy playboy (who would be made to reform and win her love), not the older, middle-aged brother, unless he was classically handsome too (which, let's face it, Bogart was not-- and nobody besides Lauren Bacall would have picked him in 1954 over Bill Holden).

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I do think it's interesting Bogart's character winds up with her. Despite a remake in recent years, if this type of story was pitched in Hollywood today, the studios would insist she wind up with the sexy playboy (who would be made to reform and win her love), not the older, middle-aged brother, unless he was classically handsome too (which, let's face it, Bogart was not-- and nobody besides Lauren Bacall would have picked him in 1954 over Bill Holden).

Yes, I can agree there! I thought that was nice as well, Audrey was young and pretty and Bogart was, as you said, not. You don't see any romantic leads like that anymore, nowadays, they all have to be fresh and handsome with no flaws. I did feel that Bogart put a lot of emotion into his performance, towards the end when he realizes Audrey is on the boat all alone, he doesn't have to say much to show how he feels, it all shows in his face.

I have several honorable mentions...most of them filmed more recently than this list...movies like Moonstruck, When Harry Met Sally, Annie Hall, You've Got Mail (and The Shop Around The Corner), Amelie, My Man Godrey....etc., etc.